Happy New Year. Polar vortex is the phrase of the week and has taken over the global warming we experienced for a while. The temperature went from 54 degrees on Sunday to 17 degrees on Monday. Even the salt water is at a freezing point. The beach plum bushes have the worst burning from the salt water that I can ever remember. The erosion continues along Lobsterville Road. It’s just a good week to stay in and work on those New Year’s resolutions.

The Christmas Eve candlelight service at the Community Baptist Church was conducted by Rev. Roger H. Spinney. Get well wishes to Rev. Ellen P. Tatreau, her husband Douglas and their daughter Elise. We will look forward to their return to the Vineyard in the New Year.

We escaped the blustery snow, ice and high winds predicted for the east coast this week to awaken to a slight dusting of snow on Wednesday morning. Forsthysia has been blooming over the past two weeks.

Nearly 50 deer have been weighed in at the tribal weigh-in station over the past week and a half, which is about average for the season. Primitive firearms season is next to thin out the herd a little more, and to have less Lyme disease, perhaps.